A recent study conducted in Australia has revealed that 45% of young adults aged 16-35 in the country engage in gambling activities on a weekly basis. The study, known as “Bets n’ Booze,” was commissioned by the Australian Institute for Family Studies and the Australian Gambling Research Centre, and involved an online survey of 1,100 adults from various regions of the country.
The study highlighted a strong correlation between alcohol consumption and gambling, with 80% of respondents admitting to drinking alcohol while gambling, and 14% stating that gambling actually led them to consume more alcohol. Dr. Nancy Greer, a Research Fellow at the Australian Gambling Research Centre, pointed out that for many young people, gambling is seen as a social activity, with 38% reporting that placing bets made watching activities more enjoyable.
Interestingly, the study also found differences in gambling habits between males and females. While both genders gambled with similar frequency, there were notable disparities in the types of bets placed. For instance, 75% of males had bet on sports events in the past year, compared to only 39% of females. Conversely, 75% of females had purchased scratch cards during the same period, compared to 52% of males.
Underage gambling emerged as a significant issue, with 29% of survey respondents admitting to gambling when they were minors. Additionally, 34% of individuals under the age of 18 reported regularly gambling on pokies, which are prevalent slot machines found in various establishments like bars, cafes, hotels, and gas stations.
The release of this study coincides with a report indicating that Australians have the highest per-capita gambling losses globally, sparking debates around the potential ban on gambling advertising. The current Labor government is facing pressure from advocacy groups and opposition parties to implement a complete ban on such ads. However, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appears hesitant to take drastic measures due to the financial dependence of many media outlets on revenue from gambling operators.
As the political landscape remains uncertain, ongoing research like “Bets n’ Booze” adds to the mounting pressure on Albanese to address the issue of gambling advertising. While a compromise solution may be reached, the urgency to make a decision grows as the next election approaches.